 The incoming chairman of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States OECS Authority and the Prime Minister of Grenada Dr. the Right Honourable Keith Mitchell has identified priority areas to take the sub-region forward. The incoming chairman noting that the world is going through the most challenging of times, explained that vision during these times is a combination of discernment, a conviction about the most appropriate direction and the courage of leadership. Dr. Mitchell highlighted areas of priority as the OECS 6 to whether the unexpected storm that is the COVID-19 pandemic. The five key priorities for this leg of our journey involve one, accelerating regional integration. We must pick up the pace of this relief and as we round up this dangerous curve we must recognize that our integration marathon is not simple. It's not simply about endurance but also the speed. Two, reinventing the economy. Three, valuing our environment. Four, building resilience. And five, enabling equity and inclusion. The last four represent a matrix foundation which must be constructed as essential to the regional integration project. Dr. Mitchell asserted that the role of the OECS Commission continues to be of paramount importance. It is close that he is proud of the work of the Commission and its undertakings in several areas including that of education and healthcare resource mobilization. Despite the many fallouts brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, the incoming chairman remaining optimistic reported that many opportunities have been revealed. Infusing this approach will be cross-cutting themes that enrich the quality of our efforts. Entrepreneurship, gender equity, digital innovation and the empowerment of youth are the inter-length strands which will make the process stronger and the results better. Sisters and brothers, in every situation of crisis there are seeds of opportunity which if properly ripped can yield transformational harvest. This is such a time. The concurrent crisis that have afford us have impacted the entire planet. They have also exposed many weaknesses of the global development model that require transformation. And we have the opportunity as small island development states to build to scale a greener, bluer and more inclusive, more resilient and more sustainable OECS. Incoming Chairman of the OECS Authority and Prime Minister of Grenada, Dr. the Right Honourable Keith Mitchell was at the time addressing the 70th meeting of the OECS Authority held virtually on 18th June 2021.